POST Wrestling was able to confirm that NXT commentator Mauro Ranallo will not be calling the November 27th episode of NXT on the USA Network. Ranallo deactivated his Twitter account over the weekend after SmackDown commentator Corey Graves put out two tweets about Ranallo that were not well received. Graves noted that “people wouldn’t know it” but there is also a WWE Hall Of Famer (Beth Phoenix) and a former ROH World Champion (Nigel McGuinness) on commentary and he thinks they have a lot to offer. Graves then responded to a Twitter user and agreed with the sentiments that Ranallo uses too many pop culture references.
To open the newest edition of WWE’s ‘After The Bell’ podcast, Corey Graves issued an apology to Mauro Ranallo although Mauro was not mentioned by name. Graves stated that he was just stirring up something fun to maybe talk about on TV or on the podcast but it was never his intention to place stress onto a fellow co-worker.
“On a personal note, I need to address something. This past Saturday during the NXT TakeOver: WarGames event, I sent out a tweet. It was a unpopular opinion as I often do, with the intention of just stirring up a little controversy. Maybe have something fun to talk about on TV or here on the show. It was maybe not the most professional way to go about things, and it was never meant to offend or disrespect or disparage anybody. That was never my intention. If it was taken as such, I apologize, deeply. That was not my intention. I would never intentionally cause anybody any undo stress, especially a co-worker. So, I apologize.”
Mauro Ranallo’s close friend, Frank Shamrock took to social media and tweeted a quote at Graves which reads, “Social media has made too many of you comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the mouth for it”, which was a quote that Corey Graves posted to his own Twitter just several days prior to his tweet[s] about Mauro.
There has been communication between Ranallo and WWE and the decision was made for him not to be at this week’s show and there is no word on if he’ll be on the December 4th edition of NXT or not.
